Review | Kent Ito “Tawagoto”

Kent Ito

“Tawagoto” presents an alternative facet of Kent Ito’s musical style, rendering it a captivating release that seamlessly follows his impeccable debut EP.

Kent Ito Tawagoto
Title: 戯言 (Tawagoto)
Release date: 30/08/2023
Label: A-Sketch/Astro Voice
Genre: Acoustic pop-rock

Tracklist:

1 - 戯言 (Tawagoto)

Track analysis:

1 – Tawagoto 

“Tawagoto” kicks off with a semi-acoustic pop-rock sound led by longing guitar riffs.

Its intro is a good appetizer for the laid-back, warm yet nostalgic sound of this song. The pacing is comfortable, the overall mixing is clean and clear and it sounds pleasing to listen to.

The verses have a certain nostalgia to them, as the guitars lead the way. The drums are simple and ride on a comfortable tempo while the bassline is a subtle presence in the background.

When the chorus kicks off, Kent Ito goes all out with his falsetto as the electric guitars go big on the reverb, giving this song an even more intense nostalgic vibe (something that winks at shoegaze rock and post-rock). The acoustic guitars however have something different going on in them. 

They are warm and cozy, making the listener feel this song with a smile plastered on their faces.

The bridge brings cool drums and guitar face-off. This isn’t something too complex but the way it breaks the pacing of the song yet how seamlessly it fits it, is quite pleasing to me.

As far as the performance goes, expect Kent Ito to deliver something quite different from everything else he has done so far as a solo artist. 

He is performing in a simplistic way, more focused on having pleasant melodies than sounding fancy. As such, you will find plenty of falsetto in this performance, raising the tension in the instrumental but never trying to overshadow it.

If you and I make a comparison of his performance in this song, it must be to how he performs with UMake. “Tawagoto” sounds like a song that belongs to UMake more so than to Ito as a solo artist.

But then again, let’s not forget he is the composer for UMake and much of his solo sound is yet to be defined as he is still in his early stages as a solo artist. These variables make it so that it’s safe to say neither you nor I know what may arrive in the upcoming releases (albums or otherwise).

As “Tawagoto” wraps up, I’m left wondering which direction Kent Ito will go next for his music, especially as he is coming from a really strong mini-album (Hanabi).

“Tawagoto” has piqued my curiosity for what comes next and has shown another side to Kent Ito as a solo artist (especially for fans who have not followed his work with UMake).


“Tawagoto” is available for streaming on Spotify.


Do not support piracy. Remember to support Kent Ito by streaming via official outlets.

Vanessa Silva
Vanessa Silvahttps://www.handthatfeedshq.com
The Hand That Feeds HQ founder, content creator, and music reviewer. Basically, the only person managing everything at The Hand That Feeds HQ. Stumbling upon Mamoru Miyano's "Orpheus" in 2011 was the start of this journey. If music is thought-provoking or deep, you may find her writing almost essays (not limited to, but it happens a lot with Soma Saito's music). She's the producer and host of the male seiyuu-centric podcast, SEIYUU LOUNGE (see Spotify link in this profile).

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REVIEW OVERVIEW

戯言 (Tawagoto)

SUMMARY

"Tawagoto" reveals a different side of Kent Ito compared to his previous solo work. He takes a more simplistic approach, focusing on creating pleasant melodies rather than showcasing elaborate vocal performances. The addition of falsetto adds a touch of tension to the music without overpowering it. It's interesting to note that "Tawagoto" seems to align more with UMake's style, likely due to Ito being the composer for the group and, of course, my prior exposure to their music. For newcomers that are not familiar to UMake, this will only sound like a new experiment for Ito though. This release piques curiosity about Ito's musical direction, especially after his powerful mini-album "Hanabi." It showcases another aspect of his artistry as a solo artist, making it an intriguing release for both long-time fans and newcomers to his music.

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"Tawagoto" reveals a different side of Kent Ito compared to his previous solo work. He takes a more simplistic approach, focusing on creating pleasant melodies rather than showcasing elaborate vocal performances. The addition of falsetto adds a touch of tension to the music without overpowering it. It's interesting to note that "Tawagoto" seems to align more with UMake's style, likely due to Ito being the composer for the group and, of course, my prior exposure to their music. For newcomers that are not familiar to UMake, this will only sound like a new experiment for Ito though. This release piques curiosity about Ito's musical direction, especially after his powerful mini-album "Hanabi." It showcases another aspect of his artistry as a solo artist, making it an intriguing release for both long-time fans and newcomers to his music.Review | Kent Ito "Tawagoto"